[ It's time for a mission. It's srs bsns, gais! *bows* I humbly beg forgiveness for the mind-numbing amount of exposition, as well as the setting. I tried for a semi-authentic feel, but I did not go for true authenticity because I don't know what that would be. I tried, I really did! I'M NOT MOCKING ANYONE, I SWEAR! ]
Book IV: Act Like Nothing Happened
Kakashi walked into the Hokage's office slightly faster than usual. After a week unconscious, almost three weeks dealing with the painful effects of a wildly unstable chakra system, and another week and a half of rest and rehabilitation to get himself back in top form he was finally on the active duty roster. If he wasn't given something to do he would go insane. Hell, he would take a D-rank mission cleaning gutters with a grateful smile and a spring in his step at this point.
"My, aren't you eager today," Tsunade drawled with a little smirk.
"I'm always eager to fulfill my duties as a Konoha shinobi, Tsunade-sama," he replied with an overly sweet smile.
"I should put you under house arrest more often, your enthusiasm improves exponentially," she chuckled, holding out a piece of paper and an envelope with an official seal stamped on it.
"I would be eternally grateful if you didn't," Kakashi bowed, taking the items and reading the mission statement quickly. He lifted his eyebrows at the location of the assignment, surprised he was being sent well beyond Ishi. "Undercover work on a human trade ring the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind are trying to rout out? I know there have been a lot more joint efforts between hidden villages recently, but I'm surprised they requested us for this."
"Some of the rogue ninjas you took down in your last mission were involved in the kidnappings. According to the interrogation reports on the surviving members behind the political sabotage, they were there for negotiations. If the coup was successful, they wanted to secure a sea port so they could set up a new base for their...'business transactions'," Tsunade said distastefully. "Suna and Iwa have been trying to find out who's behind the ring for over a year. It looks like the group is finally feeling the pressure and attempting to move locations."
"Ah, that would explain why there were more Jounin-level fighters in the area than I had expected. So, if they're looking to branch out into the Tea Country, that would threaten our border with kidnappings as well."
"Exactly," she nodded, lacing her fingers together. "And that officially involves us in the undercover work Suna and Iwa are conducting. They have gathered enough information to give a definitive location being scouted for potential victims. It's a ryokan on the border of the Land of Earth. They see a fair amount of traffic during their busy season, so they hire temporary help every summer. You'll be traveling as an ordinary citizen, your papers are in the envelope. As soon as you're packed and ready Sai will take you to a large city near the Fire Country border. It shouldn't take you more than three days to reach the inn."
"Most of the mission requirements are specific to my tracking skills," Kakashi said, putting the papers in his pocket. "I'll be helping the retrieval unit?"
"You are the retrieval unit," Tsunade replied. "We've been using one-man surveillance, and rotating them out every few days with different Jounin from all three hidden villages to avert any suspicions. The ones actually doing the kidnapping are hired mercenaries very familiar with the local land. They are capable and cautious professionals who can not be underestimated. The set-up is always the same, regardless of who the group hires. The young woman is observed and 'courted' for around three weeks until the disguised mercenary's presence and attentions are accepted and even welcomed.
"She's then lured further into submission using post-hypnotic genjutsu tactics sometimes combined with mild drug doses to weaken her will and make the genjutsu more effective. They want her to leave willingly, without anyone else suspecting anything. Once they're a safe distance away from prying eyes, they cast a stronger genjutsu to put her to sleep for easy transport and the victim is handed over to shadow clones.
"Over the course of 19 months they have sent out several Jounin kunoichi to act as bait in potential locations. The surveillance teams were Jounin-level as well, and most of them former or current ANBU. Four of the kunoichi were picked up on separate occasions. The first three were dropped and abandoned, both by the mercenaries and the by the shadow clones when they discovered they were being followed. The fourth was tracked for a few miles until all traces simply disappeared.
"There were...pieces...found later along the borders of both Countries," she said quietly, glancing away before looking back at Kakashi with angry determination. "There was precious little left of the kunoichi, but there was evidence that she had been held captive for several days before she was killed. The examiner found residual signs of sedatives and a truth serum, so we know they were trying to get information out of her. This group needs to be stopped immediately, and this assignment may be the best chance we have before they find a new place to set up shop out of our reach."
"Who are my contacts?"
"The Suna shinobi will approach you when you arrive, and I'm fairly sure you'll be able to recognize Naruto," Tsunade said, standing up and crossing her arms.
"Naruto's on surveillance?" Kakashi asked in surprise.
"Naruto is the bait," Tsunade replied, looking him firmly in the eye.
"I'm sorry...Naruto is the bait?!" He took a step back, utterly stunned.
"His stamina allows him to maintain his transformation constantly without batting an eye, and it's so perfect for luring a kidnapper it's disturbing. I had a personal chat with the kyuubi, and he assured me that he'd be able to analyze and dissipate any genjutsu before it could disrupt Naruto's chakra enough to dispel the transformation. Ino has placed several blocks in his mind to keep him from revealing sensitive information, and Sakura is putting together an antidote kit for you."
"The entire mission is at risk with him there, he's too reckless!"
"Three months ago I might have agreed with you, but not anymore," she said, shaking her head. "That young man is growing up rapidly."
"Tsunade-sama!" Kakashi glowered, clenching his fists at his sides and wishing his anger wasn't being egged on by a twist of fear. "We have highly experienced kunoichi for these kin-"
"I will not send a shinobi out there to die!" She shouted, slamming her hands on the desk and staring him down with an unyielding will. "A highly experienced kunoichi is already dead, and that is why I chose him! He is out there because he is the only person in which I have every confidence to survive, succeed and return! He will survive because he is the strongest shinobi in Konoha! He will succeed because I trust him to keep a cool head this time!" She paused only long enough to take a breath, and her voice became low and dangerous. "He will return because you will make sure of it by hunting him to the ends of the earth, Kakashi."
There was a brief silence while he stood rigid with the desire to keep arguing, but there was no point and he knew it. All he was doing was wasting time. These kinds of semi-sacrificial missions were a part of the darker side of being a shinobi, and he'd participated in his fair share of them in the past. Naruto was already out there, and if he continued to resist he might be pulled from the assignment. That thought alone was more chilling than thinking about what he knew the young man would have to endure once he was captured.
"Understood," Kakashi acquiesced, the steel in his voice solidifying his resolve as he turned on his heel to leave.
Sakura was waiting in the hallway for him, a few paces from the door. "I packed everything as discreetly as possible with labels you can remove if you want to," she said, not looking up as she handed a small cloth-wrapped parcel to him. "The scroll will give you more detailed information on the seal that shows up on the toxin identification papers, and I wrote antidote recipes under the descriptions. Try to be as exact as possible if you have to mix something together."
"I got it," he nodded, then staggered half a step back as Sakura abruptly grabbed the lapels of his vest and buried her forehead against his chest. He could feel her trembling, but refused to weaken his resolve by giving in to comfort her.
"You bring him back, Kakashi-sensei," she said quietly.
"I will."
"She was eaten. Someone ate her!" Her words were choked out in a furious hiss, and she looked up with fear and rage glistening in her pale green eyes. "Promise me you'll bring that idiot back here in one piece!"
"I promise," he replied, not flinching from her gaze and letting the ice in his gut harden his heart.
Sakura blinked a few times as she let go of Kakashi's vest and stepped back, any tears going unshed while she searched his face for the slightest minuscule sign of a lie behind the promise. A subtle fierce smile tugged at her lips, and she walked past him with her shoulders straight and her chin lifted. As he began walking in the opposite direction, he felt a similar smile ghosting at his mouth. They weren't pups and kittens anymore. It was a frightening and delightful sight watching the next generation stalk the halls with the confidence of true predators, and he knew she would tear him limb from limb if he didn't keep his word.
Preparing took longer than usual since he'd be traveling as a civilian, so all his equipment had to reflect a feasible cover story. He plucked a few books off his shelf, leaving the Icha Icha collection behind without a second thought. The parcel from Sakura was packed and hidden beneath clothes that gave no indication as to where he was from. He inspected himself briefly before leaving; dark blue long sleeved shirt without the swirl pattern on the shoulders, well-worn brown traveling cloak, brown trousers, a simple patch over his left eye, and of course his mask. His scar was visible around the eye patch, so the mask could be easily explained away as being used to cover more scarring.
Sai was waiting for him on the path that led to the main gate of Konoha, idly twirling his ink brush between his fingers. The young man's face and posture were as emotionless and unreadable as a white sheet of marble. However, the fact that he was fidgeting with his brush screamed out how anxious he was. With a flick of his wrist as he unrolled his painting scroll, a giant eagle was soon crouching next to them, and they climbed on its back without saying a word to each other.
The hours passed in silence, and, not for the first time, Kakashi was thankful for Sai's relatively quiet personality as well as his background in ANBU. Conversation wasn't necessary, they were there to fulfill a duty and that was all there was to it. Before sunset they were descending through the clouds toward the outskirts of a bustling city. They landed in a small clearing out of sight of the main road.
"Here," Sai said, turning and holding out a bookmark with a small falcon painted on it. "I'll be on border patrol until your mission is over. Once you release the seal around the edge of the paper it'll return to me with your location." He paused, his eyes flicking guiltily away for a second. "I was told to be on the watch for one of your ninken, but I thought a contingency plan might not be too out of line."
"It's appreciated," Kakashi nodded, briefly placing a hand on Sai's shoulder before jumping to the ground. "I'll be sure to contact you one way or another."
"Good hunting," he said neutrally as the Jounin started walking away.
"I'll bring him back, Sai, stop worrying." A light breeze stirred the leaves in the trees, but his sharp hearing still caught the whispered thanks before the eagle launched back into the sky.
He kept his pace brisk but casual, passing through the city with only a few stops for food supplies. Not being able to dash over the landscape made walking feel painfully slow and boring, but he used the time to focus his thoughts. Sakura's words haunted the back of his mind, and it burned him that his own advice to Naruto had set this entire situation up. He shook his head and pushed the irritating sensation of guilt aside, he couldn't afford to get ruffled or distracted by useless emotions. Each step he took he forced himself to face his internal demons, and then locked them securely away.
It took him two and a half days to reach the small village tucked in the mountains, and another two hours to reach his final destination. The late afternoon light was casting long shadows and he paused on the road, gazing up at the ryokan and attached teahouse where Naruto was boarded and working. He grimaced at the audacity of the kidnappers, the location was literally an hour from the border of the Land of Earth. After securing a room for 'an extended stay', he dropped off his bag and utilized the hot springs behind the inn to soak away the dust and sweat of travel.
He was joined by an unfamiliar face, and the two men spoke casually about nothing. By the end of the seemingly pointless conversation between strangers, he had all the information he needed on the current situation. The set-up was following the same pattern as the other disappearances, so the kidnappers would make their move within a few days. Kakashi stepped out of the hot natural bath and wrapped himself in a clean robe, mulling over what the Suna shinobi had told him as he walked back to his room.
When he entered the small teahouse that evening, he was shown to one of the traditional floor-level tables used in the establishment by an older woman. An idle glance around the place as he folded his legs to sit down sized up the dark-haired man in the corner that had been described to him. He was broad-shouldered and compact with muscle, but he sat with a lazy good-natured air of being harmless. His clothing spoke of money, but not significant wealth.
The four other men there were seated in two groups; one alone and the other three hunched together as they discussed something important. He smiled slightly as he picked up the menu, catching the scent of sunlight mingled in with all the other unfamiliar ones. The flowery jasmine odor appeared to belong only to the older woman, and the Jounin was beyond thankful that Naruto hadn't taken his role so far as to start wearing perfume.
Setting the menu down, the woman who'd seated him arrived silently at his elbow a few seconds later to take his order. As politely as he could, he requested the food be sent to his room after he'd finished his tea. A flash of gold out of the corner of his eye had him turning to look straight into Naruto's wide eyes from across the room. Her long blonde hair was pinned up loosely with a comb and two silver picks that had bits of red glass embedded in the ends. Both the brown casual kimono and cream obi she wore were plain and undecorated, denoting her status as a worker on the bottom of the ryokan's totem pole.
"Kak—nichiwa," the young woman sang, just managing to catch herself from saying his name as she gave him a bright welcoming smile.
Kakashi forced a neutrally pleasant return smile and looked away nonchalantly. ...I am going to throttle that idiot... He'd braced himself for the inevitable confrontation of that damn transformation, but seeing her was a bit more shocking than he had expected. Her mannerisms were closer to the wide-eyed flirty ditz from years ago, but they were mixed with hints of the underlying smooth sensuality of that dangerous vixen he'd been dreading.
The shock for Kakashi was that he didn't find himself overwhelmingly attracted to her anymore. He had worked hard on suppressing his feelings, but it was still somewhat surprising to find his desire genuinely cooling off. This was the first time he'd seen Naruto at all since that last very unsettling morning, so maybe he was finally regaining his sanity! Collecting himself, he let his gaze wander lazily to take in the full scope of the place.
"Come on, Nina-chan, why don't you ever greet me like that?" The lone man in the corner teased in a voice just loud enough for all the customers to hear as Naruto knelt to set a plate of food on his table.
"Because I see Masato-san so often I would lose my voice, and then I wouldn't be able to greet him at all," 'Nina' replied coyly. "And if I couldn't greet Masato-san I would cry. Masato-san doesn't want to make Nina cry, does he?" she pouted teasingly before smoothly standing up and walking toward Kakashi.
Her response was also meant to be heard, and it drew amused chuckles from a few of the other patrons. Obviously the little game between the two was a standard affair.
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," she said in a quieter tone as she knelt down, setting a cup of steaming tea in front of the Jounin with a sweet smile. "My name is Nina, and I'm still a bit new."
"It's no trouble," Kakashi shrugged and put on an amiable expression. "I'm Kyou."
"Will Kyou-san be staying for a meal?" She asked just a bit too eagerly.
"Ah, no, I prefer to eat in my room," he replied, trying not to sound rudely blunt.
"Kyou-san is so shy," she wrinkled her nose with an adorable giggle as she stood up to walk away.
Kakashi gave her a faint tolerant smile at her bold teasing. Where the hell had that punk learned to giggle like that?! He hated to admit it, but Naruto was proving to be very good bait. Maybe a little too good. Most of the occupants of the teahouse were wistfully following the lithe movements of the cheerful blonde. Masato, however, watched her with distinct attention, and Naruto obligingly paused longer at his table than any of the others. Kakashi finished his tea much quicker than he'd expected thanks to the unwitting decoy, left his payment on the table, and strolled leisurely back to his room.
After a quick check to make sure no one had touched his belongings, he pulled out one of the books he'd brought while he sat at the low table against the wall and waited for his meal to arrive. It had been a while since he'd needed to research different tracking methods. Tsunade's description of the kidnappers and victim 'disappearing' worried him, and it was going to take a significant amount of time and effort to follow them if they were using some sort of Space-Time or Summoning Jutsu. It wasn't long until he sensed a familiar presence stepping up to his door, and he lifted his eyebrows in surprise.
"I've brought your meal, Kyou-san," Nina's voice called politely from behind the door.
"Ah, thank you," he replied, closing the book and returning it to the backpack.
"Sorry for the intrusion," she said, sliding the door open from where she knelt. She picked up the tray laden with a light meal and a pot of tea that was next to her, and stepped into the room.
"This is a long way to walk from the teahouse just to set my table," he said, resting his elbow on the table to prop up his chin. "Didn't the Suna shinobi tell you I was coming?" He asked, keeping his voice barely audible as Naruto knelt down next to the table.
"Ah, well, I wanted to apologize for teasing Kyou-san. I thought perhaps I had made you angry with my bad habit of being too familiar. I didn't mean to be rude." She ducked her head meekly as she began moving the items from the tray. "He wasn't sure you'd be able to make it. Kakashi-sensei, how long are you here for?" She whispered, just as softly.
"There's nothing to apologize for, I'm not angry. Nina-chan is Nina-chan," he shrugged neutrally. "Till the mission's over."
Her head snapped up, relief glowing in her wide blue eyes. "Thank you, Kyou-san," she said, her smile threatening to blind the Jounin. "You're my retrieval unit!"
"I told you before, didn't I? It's no trouble." He impulsively reached out a hand and gently tapped Naruto on the forehead with one finger as he nodded. "Yep." His affable smile faltered a bit in confusion as the blonde abruptly ducked away again, scrambling to stand up with a polite bow.
"Kyou-san is too kind to me. I'll let you eat in peace, please enjoy your meal," she said quickly, her cheeks slightly flushed with embarrassment as she darted out of the room and slid the door closed behind her.
What the heck was that all about?! Kakashi looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers and wondering if he'd accidentally given Naruto a little electric shock. It certainly didn't feel like he had. He shook his head, slipping his mask down to eat. Naruto had been in a woman's body too long, he was starting to react like one without even trying. He needed to get out of that stupid transformation! Kakashi paused at the force of the thought, a little startled at himself. He shook his head and finished his meal. The mission was making him edgy already.
He spent the rest of the evening reading on the ryokan's wrap around porch outside his room. The few times a patron walked by he flipped to an inserted false page, just in case someone might glance down to see what he was reading. The Jounin was about to turn in for the night when a familiar scent drifted up to him from the direction of the teahouse, and he heard the giggling whispers of two young girls standing farther down the porch.
He closed his book and glanced over with idle curiosity. While he didn't have a clear view of the teahouse, he could see the lit pathway that connected it to the ryokan and the two figures walking down it. Their voices were too quiet for him to hear, but Naruto's body language made it obvious that Masato was laying the compliments on thick. The two pre-teen spies were just about dancing in place as they watched Masato lift the blonde's hand to his lips to bid her good-night.
For some ungodly reason the sight truly irked Kakashi. It had been carefully staged out in the open so anyone could see it, and he was very certain word would spread quickly as the two young girls squealed quietly and darted into their room. Naruto reacted in a slightly similar fashion, lifting her free hand to her mouth and ducking her head in embarrassment. As soon as Masato let go, she bowed with swift flustered politeness and scurried back to the teahouse. Kakashi forcibly relaxed his tight grip on his book, pushing himself to his feet and walking back into his room.
He fell into a restless sleep that night until the sensation of knowing something wasn't right crawled across his nerves, waking him up fully while he instinctively focused chakra to sharpen his senses. Someone was standing in the tree line at the edge of the ryokan's grounds. There was a soft shuffling sound as a door was slid open in the distance, and light footsteps jumped off the porch. The only one it could be was Masato, and he joined his hidden companion for a few brief seconds. Kakashi narrowed his eye and concentrated, straining to hear what they were saying to each other.
"How long?" A raspy voice asked.
"A day or two, and I'll get a taste," Masato replied.
"Good, don't fuck it up by damaging the merchandise."
"Suck my nuts, dickhead. I know what I'm doing."
Masato darted back to his room, and the other presence swiftly faded into the distance. Kakashi lay there in the dark, listening to the crickets chirping outside. He could feel his hackles rising with agitation, and he knew he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. His mind wanted to wander down unnecessary roads, but he hauled it back in line and forced himself to recall everything he'd read that day word for word.
The instant he heard the first rustlings of the staff moving about in the early morning he slipped his shoes on to take a walk around the area. He made sure to wander randomly along the small paths that circled the hot springs as far as he could go without looking out of place. By the time he returned he had a fairly clear mental picture of the two men prowling about the previous night. They were highly adept at hiding their tracks; a skill level of exceptional hunters and thieves. Tsunade's information had been more than accurate.
These guys were being cautious, and they were professionals capable of giving the best tracker a run for their money. Even their scents were muted, and he suspected their clothing was laced with some of the pungent herbal grasses found in the area to mask their own smell. Kakashi stood at the edge of the path that led up toward the ryokan, his expression sharp as he looked at the open windows of the teahouse. A figure leaned on her arms against the railing, her gold hair shining in the morning sun as she gazed at the mountains in the distance.
With Nina playing coy, Masato would need to do something to make Naruto drop his guard or the genjutsu wouldn't be completely effective. The Jounin narrowed his eye, a feeling close to bloodlust smouldering in the center of his chest and making him bristle. He caught the faint sound of a raised voice in the distance telling her to come eat, and the blonde looked over her shoulder into the room with a bright smile before leaving the window.
He remained motionless for several minutes, feeling his senses hone down to a razor's edge while he glowered at the vacant window. Naruto's guard would never be dropped. Kakashi turned and walked silently up toward his room. Not while he was the one doing the guarding. Knowing the teahouse wouldn't be ready to serve breakfast to the patrons for a while yet, he took a leisurely stroll through the halls of the ryokan to settle his nerves.
It really was a nice quaint place, the wood dark with age and warm with careful tending. Even the flower arrangements scattered about on small tables were done by experienced hands. Well, most of them were. He chuckled to himself as he paused to look at one, wondering if Naruto was being roped into learning the art. The prickling at the back of his neck as he sensed the blonde approaching from around the corner brought his head up in surprise. There was always something surreal about seeing a person the instant after you started thinking about them.
"Good morning, Kyou-san," she said brightly as she turned the corner and stopped at the sight of the taller man. She was carrying a short stack of sheets and towels. "I hope you slept well."
"'morning," he replied with an amiable smile, sliding his hands into his pockets. "I slept well enough, thank you. You're not working in the teahouse today?"
"No, I'm working in the ryokan for the weekend."
"Ah, so Nina-chan will be bringing me all my meals for two days," he said almost dryly. He was careful to make it sound as if he wasn't entirely sure that the arrangement was going to be a pleasant one, knowing the young man stepping out of the room a few doors down the hall could hear their conversation.
"Mm-hmm," she nodded, tilting her head with a sly smile at his tone. "And Kyou-san will grow fat because of it. Then he will never leave."
"We shall see..." he said with a slight chuckle as he stepped past the blonde. "Be ready, he'll try something today or tomorrow," he hissed, then nodded politely at the young man walking toward him and adjusted his stride so Naruto was momentarily blocked from the patron's view.
Kakashi had no reason to go to the teahouse if Naruto wasn't working there, but he didn't want to make himself seem like a complete hermit. So, he sat near the open windows and gazed at the snow-capped mountains far in the distance as he ran through every scenario he could think of that might take place in the next few days. Masato wasn't sitting at his corner table, and Kakashi fought the urge to tap his fingernail on the edge of the ceramic teacup.
When he returned to his room he checked his belongings and sat down at the table, unrolling the scroll Sakura had given him. The seals were categorized by primary type of effects, and then further grouped by specific drug components. The toxin papers were limited with what they could identify, and anything too complex wouldn't even bring a result. Still, the kunoichi's pet project she'd been working on developing for the last year was enormously better than having nothing at all.
"I've brought your meal, Kyou-san," Nina's voice interrupted him.
"Come in," he said, rolling up the scroll and sliding it into his pack.
"Sorry for the intrusion," she smiled politely as she opened the door and walked into the room. "Kakashi-sensei, can you stay outside today? He doesn't like to corner me in the halls where the hostess might see us," she whispered, kneeling at the table to serve the small breakfast. Kakashi could see the subtle nervous tension in Naruto's neck and jaw.
"I seem to remember you threatening to fatten me up," Kakashi drawled with a hint of amusement, resting his chin in his hand and glancing at the humble meal he'd ordered. "Sure, I can read in the garden. It's got a good view of the grounds."
Naruto's posture abruptly stiffened, and she shot an angry horrified look at the Jounin before smoothing it into a light sigh as a couple walked by the open door. "Ah, Kyou-san does present me with a difficult challenge, but I'm not going to give up yet," she laughed. "You did not bring your porn collection here!" She hissed furiously, glaring at Kakashi as soon as the coast was clear.
"I'm sure you won't," he replied with a tolerant smile. "Why? Did you want to borrow it for pointers-" The sharp whack of the empty tray over his head cut off the sentence, and he bit back the urge to snicker.
"Enjoy your meal, Kyou-san," she sang, setting the tray down and standing up. "I hope you choke on it..." she growled, turning on her heel and walking out the door.
Kakashi rubbed the little lump on the top of his head and chuckled silently after the door had shut. Well, at least that had prodded Naruto away from his doubts for the time being. Focusing on worries tended to give the blonde tunnel vision, and a distraction always helped to shake him out of it. He tucked into his meal, praying Naruto wasn't going to start sneaking sugar cubes into his rice as pay-back.
As requested, he sat on a small bench in the garden under a gnarled twisted tree whose branches sprawled out like an umbrella against the bright sunshine. A few hours later Naruto and a petite brunette wearing a similar brown kimono and an intricately patterned obi – as opposed to the plain one the blonde had – walked into the garden together carrying baskets in the crooks of their arms. From the vaguely familiar look of her pretty features, he guessed she was the daughter of the hostess.
It took an enormous amount of willpower not to break a smile and just bust out laughing as he listened to the brunette, Maia, give Naruto advice on which flowers to pick to make a suitable arrangement. Apparently the blonde was woefully undereducated when it came to that specific art form. He flipped the pages of his book to one of the false inserts, pretending to ignore them.
All humor faded in an instant as an unpleasantly familiar scent drifted on the wind from the ryokan, and he felt his hackles rise. Masato strolled up to the pair of young women with a pleasant greeting, and politely inquired as to what they were doing. Naruto explained with a touch of shyness, and Kakashi was startled to see her cheeks turn pink in embarrassment as Masato leaned forward to peer into the basket she held. He was even more startled at the ire building up in him because of it.
"Ah, so you're making flower arrangements today," Masato nodded, straightening up and glancing around the garden as a couple wandered through. "It's quite an art, isn't it. Perhaps I could make a make a small request?" He picked a red rose and held it out to the blonde with a gentle smile. "Use this one."
"I... But it doesn't suit me, Masato-san," she replied, ducking her head as her blush deepened. "It's far too grand a flower for someone such as me."
Kakashi felt his eye twitch in agitation and...disgust? He quickly reined in the impetuous emotions, pissed at himself for feeling them in the first place when there was no damn reason to. What he'd really like to know was how Naruto was pulling off the real blushing. Altering his transformation on cue with that kind of realism was dangerous when he was so close to someone who knew how to mold chakra. Even if Masato wasn't a sensory type, he might be able to pick up the spike in chakra at the changes.
"Nina-chan shouldn't say such things. I think anyone would agree this flower's beauty suits you perfectly," Masato said, looking around at the couple and the seemingly oblivious Kakashi. "The color is just right. Nothing else would do. Isn't that right?"
The couple paused as they were addressed, and the woman gave a sweet knowing smile to the furiously blushing Naruto. The man just chuckled and nodded, pulling the woman closer as they walked away. Kakashi looked up from his book with neutral interest as he was pulled into the conversation. He paused and narrowed his eye thoughtfully, looking Naruto up and down with almost clinical reserve.
"It seems to match her complexion at the moment," Kakashi chuckled with a hint of dry humor, then shrugged nonchalantly. "She looks more like a freesia to me, but it's probably because of her hair," he said with a shrug, turning back to his book with a show of apparent disinterest in the topic. It was hard to swallow the laughter at Naruto's indignant expression, but he flipped to another false page in his book and continued to pretend to read.
"The man obviously has no romance in his soul," Masato said softly, tucking the rose behind the blonde's ear with a smile. "I shall leave you two ladies to your task." He bowed and strolled back toward the ryokan.
...I have more romance in my little toe than you do in your entire being, you fucking hack... Naruto and the brunette giggled and whispered as they quickly finished gathering flowers. They ended up on the narrow stone path that wound its way past the bench he was sitting on, and the irrational imp in him wanted desperately to stick his foot out and trip Naruto so that stupid rose would fly off into the dirt. He scolded himself harshly, confused at the amount of aggression behind the desire.
Pain jolted across his foot, and his baffling anger warped completely around. That dirty bastard had nearly crushed his toes as she walked by, and Kakashi allowed himself a smile of amusement. Masato was again not in the teahouse when Kakashi sat down for his pre-lunch tea. It didn't surprise him, but it did make him impatient to return to the ryokan. Once he was back in his room, he didn't have to wait long for the familiar call outside his door.
"I've brought your meal, Kyou-san," Nina's voice said brightly.
"Ah, thank you," Kakashi replied, resting his chin on his palm as he sat at the table.
"Sorry for the intrusion," she said, opening the door and standing up to step inside. "I take it back, Kakashi-sensei, you can keep your ass inside," she whispered angrily, kneeling down at the table to serve the meal. The rose was still tucked behind her ear, and it irritated Kakashi the way the dark red actually did compliment her tanned complexion.
"It occurs to me that I might have to apologize for my comment earlier. The color does suit you," he said thoughtfully. "The man asked for my opinion, what was I supposed to do?" He asked sardonically.
"Kyou-san is too kind, there's no need to apologize to me. I hope your day in the garden was pleasant, and I am sorry if we interrupted your reading," she said meekly. "How about ignore him?! Or say 'Yeah, whatever'!"
"It's an inherent risk when reading outside along a public path. It doesn't bother me much," he shrugged. "I'll be sure to act more like a cold-hearted bastard next time, okay?" He said sweetly.
"I think it would take quite a bit to bother Kyou-san. I need to learn how to be as calm as you are," she laughed brightly, setting the empty tray on the floor. "What 'next time'?! There will be no 'next time'! I can handle this by myself, so you just stay in here!"
"Nina-chan likes to challenge herself, it's quite admirable," Kakashi said with a touch of wry humor. "I refuse," he sang with a saccharine smile. "By the way, you're not manipulating your transformation to blush like that, are you?"
"Kyou-san is teasing me. You will break Nina's heart," she pouted dramatically, placing her hand on her ample chest. "No, Kurama's baiting me," she grumbled.
"I know better than to go anywhere near Nina-chan's heart," he said flatly. "Wow, he's doing a hell of a job. Tell him to keep up the good work."
"Kyou-san is a terrible liar," she giggled mischievously, standing up to leave and sticking her tongue out at him with a brief look of vexation. "Enjoy your meal," she bowed and slid the door closed behind her.
Kakashi shook his head and chuckled, slipping his mask to tuck into the food. His teeth crunched on the first bite of the white rice, his eye going wide for a second before he grimaced and forced himself to swallow the sugar cube that had been hidden within the rice. ...I am going to kill that punk... After guzzling a lot of tea and thoroughly examining of the rest of the meal, he managed to finish it without another incident of sabotage.
He was out strolling the paths around the inn when he caught sight of Masato talking to Nina on the porch at the far side of the inn where the laundry was hung out to dry. The basket of linen was half-filled next to her feet, and the broad-shouldered man was standing with his back to the Jounin. He resisted the urge to quicken his pace, keeping his legs swinging with long ambling strides.
Kakashi couldn't hear what was being said at that distance, only that Masato was speaking in a tone that gave the impression of kindness and excitement. The man leaned in and held a cloth-wrapped object out, peeling the white fabric away with a little flourish. At his urging she reached out to hold the gift up toward the late afternoon sun. It caught the light, refracting rainbows that dazzled and blinded the eyes enough for Masato to put his hands into his sleeves to hide the seals Kakashi knew he was forming.
The hair stood up on the back of his neck as he felt the weak chakra of a mild genjutsu tingle across his nerves while Masato stroked his fingertips down Naruto's jaw line. Every instinct in Kakashi's body screamed at him to get Naruto out of there, and he had to bite his tongue hard to keep his expression neutrally curious with his feet moving in a lazy rhythm. It was over in a few seconds, and Masato was curling the dazed young woman's fingers around the crystal.
"...st thought Nina-chan would like it," Masato said, the words finally becoming understandable as Kakashi got closer.
"Ah, thank you so much," she blinked, looking down at the crystal in astonished delight as her cheeks flushed. "Masato-san is too generous to a person like me." Her eyes darted to the approaching Jounin, then back to Masato, and finally down at her hands as she shyly twined her fingers together.
"Well, I'll leave Nina-chan to her duties," Masato bowed, his back stiffening as he realized the two of them were being watched.
The movement was tempered perfectly to look normal, and Kakashi knew it was an act. Masato had wanted to be caught flirting with her more intimately in private the same way he wanted people to see him court her openly. It would make the moment she left with him all the more believable. He walked off with a spring in his step, glancing at Kakashi with an idle smile of greeting. The lanky Jounin returned the smile placidly as he continued to walk right by the porch.
He flicked a look up at her, meeting Naruto's eyes briefly before looking away. Whatever had been done had been done, and there was nothing he could do about it right then without blowing the whole mission. Unfortunately, it was still too early to order his evening meal, so all that was left to do was to wait for the opportunity to speak to Naruto in relative privacy. He followed the porch around till he came upon the stairs. Naruto still needed to finish folding and putting the laundry away, so Kakashi wandered the halls looking at all the new flower arrangements to burn time and possibly catch sight of the blonde.
Kakashi ran into Naruto on his way back to his room with an extremely confusing and worrying result. The instant she spotted him she opened her mouth to say something, took one step forward, clamped her mouth shut as her face turned bright red and her eyes went wide with horrified disbelief, then spun on her heel and hurried away. He stared at the empty hallway, frozen in place as he wondered what the hell kind of genjutsu that asshole had used.
Being so weak and short-lived, the only thing it could have been was a suggestive plant. But even that shouldn't work with the kyuubi disrupting Naruto's chakra and snapping him out of it. The crystal Masato had given her bothered him, and a cold feeling of dread started to creep into his gut. He asked the ryokan hostess to send his meal to his room, not wanting to waste time sitting in the teahouse while Naruto was acting so strangely.
When he got back to his room he closed his eye and scratched at his hair for a moment to collect his thoughts. Rummaging through his backpack, he pulled out the scroll Sakura had sent with him and unrolled it on the low table. A worst-case scenario played out in his head as he skimmed through the various seals. Scowling at one particular set, he scanned the notes the kunoichi had written and made a few hurried preparations.
It only took him a few minutes to gather the things he thought he might need, and with a little luck he might not need the towels at all. He sat down so he was facing the wall instead of the door, tucking the one damp and one dry towel under the table. That would give Naruto the opportunity to kneel next to the table with his back to the open door instead of where he usually knelt with his side facing the hall.
"I've brought your meal, Kyou-san," Nina's voice filtered through the door, sounding subtly strained.
"Come in."
The cold feeling in the pit of his stomach got worse when she refused to look at him after opening the door. Naruto was very good at putting on a veil of simple nervous embarrassment, but Kakashi had known him far too long to be fooled. She took a deep breath and absently rubbed her forehead before turning to pick up the tray next to her. Her movements were deliberate and stiff as she stood up, and her cheeks were flush. Her pupils were dilated and her gaze darted and flinched, as if trying to avoid looking at something that was impossible to actually avoid looking at. There was an expression that bordered somewhere between pain, concentration, and panic being desperately hidden on her features.
"Ah, sorry for the intrusion," she said, still not looking at the Jounin while she set the tray down. "We have a serious problem here!" She hissed.
"You look a little flush, Nina-chan. Did you spend too much time out in the sun today?" Kakashi asked with neutral concern. "What was the genjutsu?"
"I don't think so. It was so nice out, a person should go out and enjoy it," she said thoughtfully, transferring the meal to the table with slightly trembling fingers. "I don't know. Kurama's being a dick, he won't tell me."
"That person should enjoy those things in moderation, or they'll make you sick," he replied somewhat sternly, broiling inside and wishing he could slam the door shut as a group of older men walked by. "Ask him if it was post-hypnotic recognition, and did you already deliver Masato's dinner?"
"Kyou-san sounds like a doctor. I think I'm just tired is all, there's nothing to worry about," she laughed lightly, setting the tray down on the floor. "Yes I did, it was revolting and don't ever mention it again. Kurama says yes, it was sublinimun... What language are you two even speaking?! What does that mean?! How long am I going to be stuck like this?!" There was a faint edge of panic to her voice, and she only dared to glance at him briefly with an agonizing mix of emotions in her eyes.
"Well, I'm not a doctor, but I know enough to tell you that you should probably sit down for a little while," Kakashi said, looking straight at Naruto with a sharp unflinching gaze as soon as the hallway was clear. "Not long. I'll take care of it, don't worry. This is an old ANBU trick, just concentrate on your chakra," he whispered, reaching out and grabbing the back of her head before she could duck out of the way.
"Wha-"
Tightening his grip, Kakashi slammed Naruto's forehead down on the table top. She gave a yelp of pain and toppled to her side as she clutched her head, her golden hair spilling around her as her comb and silver picks came loose from the impact. The rose dropped to the floor where Kakashi could 'accidentally' crush it as he moved forward.
"Nina-chan, are you all right?!" Kakashi asked, his voice nothing but concern as he dug his fingers into the thin arm and leaned over with a scowl only the blonde could see. Sharpening his senses, he could feel Naruto's chakra fluctuating and threatening to break the transformation. "Naruto, don't lose your focus!"
"I-I'm fine," she forced a laugh through clenched teeth. "I'll fucking kill you, Kakashi!" She hissed venomously.
"I told you not to stand up," he scolded with a sweet unrepentant smile, idly noting the lack of an honorific at the end of his name. The smile vanished to a calm look of clinical concern as he gently pulled her back up to a sitting position so anyone passing by could at least see the side of her face.
"Is everything all right?" An older woman's voice called discreetly from the open doorway.
"Ah, it's fine, it's fine," Kakashi flashed the curious patron an amiable smile that had a touch of exasperation to it. It had the effect of giving the impression he didn't particularly want to be dealing with Nina, but that it also wasn't an imposition for him. He was neutral. Harmless. "She just tripped and bumped her head," he shrugged, producing a small first aid kit from his backpack.
"Oh, no! Nina-chan, what happened?!" The petite brunette who had been with Naruto that day in the garden bowed with swift apology at the door and scampered in to kneel next to her injured companion.
"I tripped and bumped my head on the table," the blonde replied in honest mortified irritation, casting her eyes to the side as if wanting to disappear. It was obvious she would have covered her face in shame if her head wasn't being bandaged up.
"Poor dear..." Maia sighed, then turned toward the Jounin and bowed deeply. "I must apologize for this terrible inconvenience, Kyou-san."
"It's not a problem," he shrugged with the same amiable smile he'd given the patron. "These things happen to everyone now and then. Ah, but...I don't suppose I could trouble you for some ice?"
"Of course! I'll bring it right back," she said and darted out of the room, leaving the door open. The curious woman had already left, seeing the situation had been taken care of and not wanting to be called rude by staring.
"An 'old ANBU trick', my ass!" Naruto flicked an angry glare at him.
"Hey, it worked didn't it? It got your mind off of the problem long enough to collect yourself, and you'll be put to bed for the rest of the night."
"How the shit is that supposed to help?! I share a god damn room!"
Kakashi tensed momentarily, staring at Naruto in shock before quickly schooling his features into a neutral expression at the sound of hurried footsteps approaching the door.
"There, all done," he said, tying off the bandages. "You'll be fine by morning, I'm sure it feels worse than it actually is."
"Sorry for intruding, Kyou-san," Maia bowed in the doorway before stepping in to hand over the small ice pack. "You've been far too kind."
"Heh, I suppose that happens to everyone now and then as well," Kakashi said with mild amusement, taking the bundle of ice and gently placing it on the blonde's down-turned forehead for her to hold in place. He glanced at another passer-by, and then leaned toward the brunette kneeling beside Naruto. "Could I convince you to close the door?" He asked, lowering his voice slightly and giving her a somewhat sympathetic smile. "I think Nina-chan has suffered enough tonight."
"Oh," she started, tilting her chin down at the sound of footsteps walking by. "I'll take her to her room, we've bothered Kyou-san too much."
"Not at all," he waved his hand lazily, reaching out to pour a cup of tea. "What would bother me more is if Nina-chan tumbled again just outside my door because she hadn't had time to recover," he said, handing the steaming cup to Naruto. "I'd feel responsible."
"We are not worthy of Kyou-san's kind generosity," the brunette said after a moment of hesitation, then nodded and stood up. "I'll leave her in your care until she feels well enough to walk again. Thank you very much."
Kakashi sighed with a touch of resignation, then chuckled off-handedly and pulled out a book from his backpack as if to start reading while he sat there.
"It certainly makes for an interesting night, if highly unexpected. I'm sure she won't be here long, you don't have to worry about it."
"I'm sorry, Kyou-san," the blonde said humbly as the door slid closed, and then promptly vanished in a puff of smoke. "Oh my god, please tell me you can fix this," Naruto whimpered quietly, setting the teacup on the table and slumping against it to drop his head onto his arm.
It was no surprise he was still dressed in the kimono. Just getting the obi wrapped and tied nicely in the back required help, so there was no way he could simply transform into a copy of the uniform every day without people looking at him like he was a circus freak. Add to that the fact that he had a roommate, he'd need to hide the original clothing, figure out how to make them appear as if they'd been worn when he sent them to be cleaned, fabricate rips or stains on the transformed clothing in case of an accident, then duplicate it on the original, and it was plain easier and more practical to wear the damn dress.
"Don't worry about it. Drink your tea, you can talk when you're feeling better," Kakashi said as he quickly reached into his backpack for a piece of the toxin paper and the scroll he'd been reading earlier. He didn't have time to acknowledge the surge of grateful relief at seeing Naruto. The real Naruto. "I can fix this," he said firmly, picking up the small knife that was in the first aid kit and brushing the edge under one of the young man's fingers.
"Also...please tell me it doesn't involve bloodletting," Naruto said wryly, glaring suspiciously at the inscribed paper Kakashi wiped across the shallow cut. It was just a scratch, so it would be healed in no time. "I think I've had enough old ANBU tricks for the day."
"Nope, this trick is courtesy of Sakura," Kakashi replied, unrolling the scroll to match the seal that had appeared on the paper with one of the set he'd been looking at earlier.
His shoulders slumped in relief. At least it was a straight mild aphrodisiac, and not a mixed cocktail. The dosage was fairly low, but without the genjutsu to focus Naruto's mind on one person his body was simply reacting to everyone. A woman would have been able to deal with the effects of the drug much easier on a strictly physical level, and Jounin specializing in undercover work were trained to be prepared to handle these kinds of situations. Naruto was just too inexperienced for this. He was being mind-fucked. Almost literally.
"I would like to amend my previous statement," Naruto said ruefully, closing his eyes and cringing. "Please tell me this involves bloodletting, because those old ANBU tricks of yours are awesome, Kakashi-sensei. Can't get enough of 'em."
"Too bad for you she sent me quite well prepared," he sighed, giving Naruto a look of genuine pity for the cruel hand he'd been dealt that night. His brain automatically filed away the fact that the honorific had returned, but that was all the attention he gave to the thought. "Do you still have that thing he gave you?"
"That cheap crystal? I wrapped it up in a cloth and hid it in my room after my body started wanting to whore itself out," he said with a healthy dose of caustic self-disgust, lifting his head and watching as the Jounin put the scroll away and retrieved a small packet from his backpack.
"Good," Kakashi nodded, picking up the spoon sitting next to his miso soup and tapping out a careful amount of red powder onto it. "That was probably the source of the aphrodisiac. It's a type that can be absorbed through your skin on contact."
"What's that red stuff?"
"The solution to your problem. It's not going to be the most pleasant experience, but it'll be over in a few minutes," he said, adding a few drops of tea so the powder dissolved it into a liquid that resembled blood.
"It can't be worse than what I'm feeling right now!" He paused, sitting up and placing the ice pack on the table. "What's it going to do?"
"It's going to make you sick, so you'll have to try to keep the noise down to a minimum if possible," Kakashi said, holding out the spoon. "Just put it under your tongue to avoid most of the taste. I'll take care of everything else."
Naruto nodded, shoving the spoon into his mouth as Kakashi grabbed the towels from under the table. He slung the damp one over his shoulder and unfolded the dry one swiftly so he could hand it to the blonde. The offering was none too soon, and Naruto snatched the towel frantically as his face blanched at the abrupt rebellion of his stomach. He buried his face in the white cloth, doubling over and trying to turn away at the same time.
"What was that? You want to know what I'm reading?" Kakashi asked nonchalantly, lunging forward and looping his arm around Naruto's shoulders to pull the young man in so he was half draped over his lap. It would be a great deal more comfortable for Naruto if he had something to lean on. "Oh, it's a book on migratory patterns," he continued, rambling on to cover the muffled sounds of violent retching and wishing that silly little brunette would stop wandering by to hover her ear next to the door. Naruto's elbows dug harshly into his hip and knee on one side, while his knees pressed into the Jounin's ankle and calf on the other. "You look confused, let me see if I can explain it a bit."
He kept letting the boring words spill out without paying much attention to them, instead focusing on the shuddering choking figure braced against him. Slipping the damp towel off his shoulder, he rolled it up and placed it on the back of Naruto's neck. The blonde's belly had to have been fairly empty to begin with, since staff wouldn't be served dinner till after the guests, and Kakashi sympathized with the pain of heaving up nothing but bile. He droned on about migrating animals, rubbing the heel of his palm along Naruto's spine to distract him a bit from his suffering.
The minutes were ticking slowly by, and each second of agony sapped more of Naruto's strength till he was barely able to keep the edges of the towel gripped at the sides of his head. Flipping the damp towel over so the cool side was against Naruto's neck, he hooked one arm around the heaving chest to keep the blonde from sliding off his lap. Somewhere in the back of his mind he registered the fact that there wasn't as much meat on the bones under his grasp than there was supposed to be, and that thought troubled him.
The spasms finally slacked off, then ceased altogether. "It looks as though I've bored you half to sleep, Nina-chan," Kakashi chuckled drolly, carefully taking the towel out of Naruto's grasp to bundle it aside. "I suppose it's not an interesting subject for most people, don't let it bother you. You should finish your tea."
The blonde's limp hands fell to the floor as he gasped for air, his body shivering and boneless. Kakashi gently wiped Naruto's face with a corner of the damp towel and shifted him back so his head was resting on his thigh instead of lolling next to it like a rag doll. His blonde hair stuck to his pale sweat-dampened cheeks as he stared lifelessly at the wall, not having the energy to even protest the fact that he was half sprawled over the Jounin's lap.
"Can we just...not ever do that again...please," Naruto moaned weakly.
"It's your own fault for perfecting that nasty little Jutsu of yours," Kakashi chuckled, reaching back to pick up the cup of warm tea off the table behind him.
"I really hate you right now. Can I beat you up when the feeling comes back to my arms?" He asked blandly.
"Tell you what," Kakashi said, leaning over and wrapping Naruto's fingers around the ceramic cup. "When we get back home, we'll have an all-out sparring match," he said, supporting Naruto's hands so the blonde's trembling arms didn't spill the tea while he lifted his head to drink it.
"Can I use Sennin Mode?"
"Mmm...I'll concede to that," he shrugged.
"God, I love you."
"Fickle as Autumn skies..." Kakashi drawled cynically. Naruto glared at him and bit his wrist. "Ow, damn it!" He laughed softly, jerking his hand back and grabbing the empty cup of tea. "That's it, get up you ungrateful punk, you're just fine now. We're running out of time anyway," he growled without malice, rapping the blonde hard on his bandaged forehead and shoving him off his lap as Naruto bit back a yelp of pain and clutched his head.
"Maia's been eavesdropping, huh," Naruto mused with a touch of irritation, pushing himself up on wobbly arms to sit back on his heels. He picked up the damp towel that had fallen off his neck, scrubbing his face with it. "I swear, that girl is going to trip over her own nose one of these days."
"Sounds like someone I know..." Kakashi said with droll humor, picking up his bowl of soup and handing it to the young man.
"I am not that bad!" He protested with quiet force, absently folding the towel before setting it aside and taking the offered food.
Kakashi arched a brow and gave him a flat look.
"...anymore..." Naruto reluctantly corrected himself.
Kakashi remained silent.
"...most of the time..." Naruto darted his eyes away, putting the bowl to his lips.
Kakashi continued to remain silent.
"...shut up..." Naruto grumbled, drinking the soup and hunching his shoulders sulkily.
Resisting the desire to snicker, the Jounin smiled in high amusement and held out the rest of his dinner.
"What, all of it?" Naruto asked, trading the empty bowl for the plate of food.
"You need it more than I do, you've dropped weight. What the heck have you been doing, anyway?" Kakashi scowled.
"I've been eating like a girl," he countered dryly, tucking into the food with relish.
"Touché," Kakashi said as he lifted his eyebrows, then flicked an annoyed glance at the door. "Your little friend is back. This might be the best time to leave, can you stand up?"
"Yeah, I'm alright," Naruto nodded, handing the plate back and quickly wiping his face with the folded towel before also giving that to the Jounin. He got swiftly to his feet and immediately teetered a bit on legs that weren't quite as prepared as he had assumed.
"Be careful!" He hissed, reflexively darting his hands out from where he knelt and gripping Naruto's waist to keep him steady. Again there was the troubling sensation of knowing that waistline had shrunk a bit. Not enough to cause serious worry, but still...
"Ah, sorry," Naruto smiled sheepishly, his cheeks flushing as he grabbed Kakashi's arms to catch his balance. Kakashi released his hands, keeping his arms out for the blonde to brace against till he had his legs firmly under him. "Okay, I got it this time," he said, carefully letting go of the Jounin and shifting from foot to foot to test his balance.
Kakashi hovered his hands near Naruto's waist for a few seconds until he was satisfied the blonde wouldn't topple over. He passed off the twinge of reluctance he felt as nothing but concern when he drew his arms back to his sides. The truth was he did feel anxious about sending Naruto out the door so soon after such an ordeal. Naruto caught Kakashi's eye and grinned confidently, forming the seal to transform before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Your color is looking better, Nina-chan," Kakashi said, scooting back to his original position at the table and quickly shoving the towels out of sight. "Have you recovered your senses?" He asked, sliding the teapot to block the view of the empty plate from the doorway.
"I think I have." She gave an embarrassed laugh, impatiently waving off the last of the wisping curls of smoke as she stepped toward the door. "I really don't deserve such kind tolerance, thank you so much, Kyou-san."
Right on cue there was a polite scratch at the door. "Forgive the intrusion, but I wanted to check on Nina-chan," Maia's voice called with discreet softness.
"Come in," Kakashi chuckled mildly as the door slid open and the brunette nearly pounced on Naruto with sweet concern. "See that she's bundled off to bed right away. A hot meal and a good night's rest should have her back to her impertinent self in the morning," he said, waving the pair off with droll amusement.
He resisted the intense desire to roll his eyes at their profuse thanks and apologies. As soon as the door was closed, he flopped lifelessly to the floor and heaved a sigh of relief. Maia had adopted an air of 'mother hen' when she'd heard Kakashi's recommendation, looping her arm around the taller blonde's waist. Naruto would indeed be put to bed right away, and probably be given a treat for his dinner.
Rage started picking at him as he thought about how that kind young lady was being so heartlessly tricked by Masato. From the way Maia had reacted in the garden, it was obvious she had been taken in by the mercenary's act and was delighted at the prospect for her blonde companion. If Naruto hadn't been there, it might have been Maia getting the attention. Though, with familial ties to the ryokan that possibility was a slender one. She was being groomed to stay and marry, not marry and leave.
Kakashi sat up, unfolding the damp towel and wrapping it securely around the mostly dry one to conceal the evidence and distract himself from his thoughts. He paused as he tied the corners together, rubbing the cloth between his fingers thoughtfully as something nagged at him. He'd had to unfold the damp towel. He'd had to unfold it because Naruto had folded it and set it aside. Naruto had folded the towel without even thinking about it. The memory stunned him, and he shook his head with a subtle smile as he stuffed the whole bundle into the bottom of the hamper in the corner. The blonde was growing up rapidly, indeed...although that little habit was likely due to his stay here and the necessity of not being caught out as a slob.
After placing his tray of empty dishes in the hall, he pulled out his futon and lay back on it with his hands laced behind his head. The scent of windswept grass and sunlight was heavy in the room, and Kakashi didn't mind that it helped relax him. He hadn't slept much the night before, and he needed to be completely refreshed the next morning because he doubted he'd have much opportunity to really rest over the next several days. That warm smell was so ingrained in his mind he could probably catch it if it was buried within a crowd of thousands of people. He could find it anywhere.
Kakashi awoke an hour before dawn, choking on words half-uttered and clawing at the futon as he doubled over in a frantic attempt to prevent his body's apparent need to completely destroy his mind. He bit into his lower lip and buried his face in his hands as he dug his nails into his scalp, squeezing his eyes shut as he willed himself into submission. After several long minutes he lay half-curled on his side, panting in the cool morning air. ...fuck you, body, I win this time... He grimaced as the agony hit him, rolling onto his knees and pressing his forehead into the tatami mats. ...that's right, let that be a lesson to you...don't you ever do that shit again...
It was several more minutes till he pushed himself to his feet to pace around the room. Well, 'hobble' would be a more appropriate term considering the amount of torture he was in at the moment. That dream hadn't been the same one as before. What the hell was wrong with him?! How could he even think of Naruto like-
The cold knot in his stomach started to warm up and he clenched his fists at his sides, refusing to allow his hideous body to betray him again as he cringed in pain. He grit his teeth and made himself continue to pace furiously until his stride showed no indication of his unrelenting physical ailment. Okay, so it wasn't the first time his sleeping brain had decided to stray into unwanted territory by dreaming of a man, but it was the first time he hadn't been able to shake the aberrant lust off by facing real reality as opposed to dream reality. It wasn't going away. Why wasn't it going away?!
He had to back up, he had to go back to the way he used to look at the blonde. He could not continue on like this, it was getting repulsive. Naruto was his student, god damn it! His friend! His co-worker! His companion! His future boss, for fuck's sake! There was no way he was going to let his body twist the feelings he had for Naruto into something that would take the young man away from him! He wouldn't let it! He had to go back!
"Think, you stupid fuck!" Kakashi snarled quietly at himself, pulling at his hair. "Now is not the time to be distracted by this kind of bullshit! It was just a dream! You have to act like nothing happened! Because that will never happen! Because that is not something you have ever, or will ever WANT to happen!"
If he didn't get himself together fast there was more to be lost than his mind. He was on a mission, and a dangerous one at that. He had to focus! It was a safe bet that Masato would take Naruto today, he couldn't afford to get rattled by a personal bout of insanity. Unfortunately, scrolling through the interactions between Naruto and Masato wasn't helping to center his concentration, it was making his blood boil.
Stalking to the door that led outside to the porch, he forced himself to slide it gently open instead of kicking it down like he wanted to. He needed air, this was just plain getting out of hand. An all too familiar scent crept in on the fresh breeze, and he caught sight of a lithe figure walking quickly to the small shed that housed the ryokan's washing machine. Stepping back from the door, he turned and slid down the wall so he could sit and glare daggers at the wall.
...seriously, Fate...you can be a fucking bitch at the worst times...
Acting like nothing happened was going to be excruciating in more ways than one that day.